Yarn feeding and control means for circular knitting machine

ABSTRACT

The plating position of plural yarns is accurately controlled during the knitting of both plain fabric and rib fabric in the formation of socks on a circular knitting machine of the type including both dial and cylinder needles. The yarn feeding and control means includes a special &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;drop&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; throat plate and a special yarn feed finger adapted to feed terry loop forming yarn at an upper throat level and elastic and inelastic body yarns at the same level in a lower throat in the throat plate. Radial separation of the elastic and inelastic body yarns is achieved by means of a yarn passage slot extending from the upper throat level to one side of the lower throat. This position of the body yarns is maintained as these yarns are fed to the needles to provide accurate plating of the yarns in the fabric.

United States Patent 1 Holder in] 3,826,110 1 July 30, 1974 YARN FEEDINGAND CONTROL MEANS' FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Otis W. Holder, Mount Airy, NC.

Oakdale Knitting Company, Mount Airy, NC.

Apr. 3, 1972 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

I Appl. No.: 240,523

US. Cl. 66/9 R, 66/19, 66/125 R, 66/125 B, 66/136 Int. Cl D04b 9/12, D04b 9/18, D04b 15/58 Field of Search 66/125 B, 136, 125 R, 131, 66/133,138, 137,141,19

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1931 Houseman 66/137 9/1946 Killian 3/1948 1/1961 H1966 9/1966 5/1969 Smith 66/125 B Primary ExaminerW. C. Reynolds Assistant ExaminerAndrew M. Falik Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [5 7] ABSTRACT The plating position of plural yarns is accurately controlled during the knitting of both plain fabric and rib fabric in the formation of socks on a circular knitting machine of the type including both dial and cylinder needles. The yarn feeding and control means includes -a special drop throat plate and a special yarn feed finger adapted to feed terry loop forming yarn at an upper throat level and elastic and inelastic body yarns at the same level in a lower throat in the throat plate. Radial separation of the elastic and inelastic body yams is achieved by means of a yarn passage slot extending from the upper throat level to one side of the lower throat. This position of the body yarns is maintained as these yarns are fed to the needles to provide accurate plating of the yarns in the fabric.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures York 66/9 R PAIENIED- L I 3,826.1 1O

sum 10; 2

YARN FEEDING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE This invention relates generally to improvements in a hosiery knitting machine of the kind adapted to selectively knit either ribbed or plain fabric by the use of cylinder and dial needles and, more particularly, to an improved yarn feeding and control means for such a machine.

In the knitting of socks of the type including a ribbed upper cuff portion and terry loops in at least portions of the foot, a pair of body yarns are usually knitted in plated relationship throughout the entire length of the sock. In socks of this type the body yarns usually include elastic and inelastic body yarns knit in plate relationship in both the ribbed cuff portion and the plain knit foot portion and terry loops are formed of a third yarn and in selected portions of the foot, such as the heel, toe, high splice and sole portion. In some cases, the elastic body yarn and the terry yarn are positioned on the inner side of the sock and are hydrophobic while the inelastic body yarn is positioned on the outside of the sock and is hydrophilic. With this arrangement, the yarns on the inner portion of the sock tend to wick any moisture from the foot of the wearer and to the outside of the sock where it is absorbed by the hydrophilic yarn.

In other cases, the three yarns may be similar or different. For example, the body yarns may be a textured nylon and orlon or textured nylon and cotton, wool or the like. Also, the terry yarn may be formed of natural or synthetic fibers. In any case, it is important that the plural body yarns and the terry yarn be maintained in the proper plated relationship throughout the sock.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved yarn feeding and control means which provides proper plating of plural body yarns, as well as the terry yarn, so that the plating relationship of the yarns remains constant during both the knitting of ribbed and plain fabric.

In accordance with the present invention, a special drop throat plate is provided in the latch ring and includes an upper yarn feed throat with an inner face portion which is flush with the inner peripheral surface of the latch ring and positioned above the level of the dial needles. A lower yarn feed throat is provided below the level of the dial needles and has an inner face portion stepped outwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the latch ring. This provides a lower inwardly stepped face portion on the throat plate so that the dial needles may remain in a partially outwardly projected position as they pass the throat plate to insure that the body yarns will be laid in the hooks thereof in the proper relationship to maintain their plated position in the stitch loops. A special yarn feed finger is also provided for operation in the throat plate and is provided with first yarn feed passage for feeding terry yarn at the level of the upper yarn feed throat of the throat plate, a second yarn feeding passage for feeding one body yarn at the level of the lower yarn feed throat, and a third yarn feeding passage for feeding another body yarn at the same level as the first body yarn and in a position spaced outwardly therefrom. This special yarn feed finger cooperates with the special throat plate to accurately control the plating relationship of the three yarns as they are fed to the needles and stitch loops are formed thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sock in which the upper cuff portion is ribbed fabric and the foot is provided with portions of terry loop fabric, as illustrated in the broken away portion thereof;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the latch ring adjacent the yarn feeding station and illustrating the throat plate of the present invention positioned therein;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 and illustrating the special yarn feed finger in feeding position in the special throat plate;

portion of the latch ring in which the throat plate is positioned and illustrating the manner in which the cylinder needles pick up and form stitch loops of the yarns fed thereat;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of the throat plate, the cylinder needles and the sinkers, illustrating the manner in which the three yarns are fed at the throat plate during the knitting of the terry portions of the sock;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the manner in which the two body yarns are fed to the cylinder and dial needles during the knitting of the ribbed upper cuff portion of the sock;

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view looking downwardly on the special throat plate; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but looking upwardly at the lower surface of the throat plate.

The improved yarn feeding and control means of the present invention may be applied to different types of circular hosiery knitting machines and only those portions of the knitting machine have been shown which are necessary to an understanding of the invention. The parts of the machine which are not shown are of conventional construction and the operation of the cylinder needles and the sinkers are generally illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,237,256; 1,256,062; 1,282,958; and 1,641,554. The dial needles are preferably operated in a special manner during the knitting of the ribbed upper cuff portion of the sock; as fully described and illustrated in my US. Pat. No. 3,487,660.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a sock is illustrated which includes an upper rib knit cuff portion 10, an ankle or high splice area 11, a heel pocket 12, a foot portion 13 including an instep portion extending across the top of the foot and a sole portion 14 extending be-' neath the foot portion of the sock, and a toe pocket 15 which is closed by a looped or stitched line 16. Terry loops, indicated at 17, are formed on the inner surface of the foot portion of the sock and preferably extend throughout the sole portion 14, the heel 12, the toe l5, and above the heel in the high splice area 11. While the present invention will be described in connection with the knitting of the type of sock shown in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that the present invention may be utilized in the knitting of other types of socks and hosiery.

The knitting machine with which the present invention is illustrated includes a circle of vertical movable cylinder needles C which are conventionally supported in a needle cylinder, not shown. A circle of dial needles FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the D (FIG. 6) is supported in a conventional manner in the dial, not shown, for horizontal movement in a radial direction. Terry type sinkers T are supported in the usual manner for radial movement in a horizontal direction between the cylinder needles C. The sinkers S are each provided with a normal stitch loop forming ledge and a nib having an upper stitch drawing ledge 21 over which yarn is drawn to form terry loops.

As is well known, outward movement is imparted to the sinkers as they approach the knitting station and the yarn feeding position and the sinkers are again moved inwardly after they have passed the yarn feeding position, in the conventional manner. During the knitting of non-terry fabric, the sinkers move inwardly after the yarns have been drawn downwardly over the normal stitch forming ledge 20 so that all yarns are positioned below the upper nib 21 when the stitch loops are formed. When forming terry loops, the sinkers are moved inwardly at an earlier point and the terry yarn is fed at a high level so that the terry yarn is drawn down over the upper stitch loop forming ledge 21 of the nibs to form elongated terry loops while the body yarns are fed at a low level and to form stitch loops over the lower stitch forming ledge 20.

A latch ring 22 is supported in a conventional mannet and surrounds the upper ends of the cylinder needles C with the inner peripheral surface positioned closely adjacent to the outer surfaces of the cylinder needles C. The special throat plate of the present in vention is broadly indicated at 23 and is suitably supported in the latch ring 22 by screws 24, 25 (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2) which penetrate elongated slots in opposite side portions 26, 27. The central portion of the throat plate 23 is provided with a first or upper yarn feed throat 28 extending between the opposed side portions 26, 27 and being in part defined by the upper surface of a horizontal leg 29 of an adjustable yarn guide having a vertical leg 30. The horizontal leg 29 is supported for radial adjustment in a groove which is cut in the upper yarn feed throat 28 and the upper surface of the horizontal leg 29 is flush with the upper yarn feed throat 28. The adjustable yarn guide is held in adjusted position by a screw 31 which passes through an elongated slot 32 in the horizontal leg 29 of the guide and is threadably supported in the throat plate, The forward or inner end of the yarn guide defines a yarn guiding corner at the juncture of the horizontal leg 29 and the vertical leg for purposes to be presently described.

A yarn feed finger receiving slot 35 is cut in the central portion of the upper yarn feed throat 28 and provides an opening for entry of a special yarn feed finger, to be presently described. A substantially U-shaped bridge portion 36 is provided on the lower portion of the throat plate and one leg is formed integral with the side portion 26 and extends downwardly therefrom. The central part of the U-shaped portion 36 provides a second or lower yarn feed throat 37 (FIG. '7) and the inner face portion of the U-shaped portion 36 is stepped outwardly of the inner face of the upper yarn feed throat 28, as best illustrated in FIG. 8, so that the dial needles D may remain partially projected as they pass the throat plate and the inner hooked portions may pass beneath the inner peripheral portion of the upper yarn feed throat 28, as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 6 and dotted lines in FIG. 3.

A slot 40 is cut in one leg of the U-shaped bridge portion 36 and provides a yarn passage between the upper feedthroat 28 and one side of the lower yarn throat 37. As best shown in FIG. 4, opposite side portions of the U-shaped bridge portion 36 which form the downwardly extending drop portion of the throat plate 36 are curved downwardly to insure that any partially closed latches of the cylinder needles which engage the same will be cammed downwardly to the fully open position.

Conventional type yarn feed fingers 41, 42 (FIG. 6) are supported for pivotal movement into and out of yarn feeding position at opposite sides of the throat plate 23. These conventional feed fingers are pivotally supported on a pivot pin 43 (FIG. 3) and are moved into and out of the yarn feeding position by conventional thrust rods, not shown, and are generally shaped as is illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 3. The conventional feed fingers 41, 42 are utilized in the knitting of ribbed fabric on both the cylinder needles C and the dial needles D and feed respective first and second body yarns B-1 and 8-2 to the needles, in a manner to be presently described.

A special yarn feed finger, broadly indicated at 50, is pivotally supported on an eccentric pivot pin 51 to provide radial adjustment of the position of the inner end of the feed finger, as desired. The inner end of the spe cial feed finger 50is normally urged into operative position by a tension spring 52 and is at times raised to an inoperative position by a conventional thrust rod 53 (FIG. 3).

The inner end portion of the special feed finger 50 is provided with a first yarn feed passage 54 (FIG. 3) for feeding afirst yarn, such as terry yarn T to the cylinder needles C. As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the yarn feed passage 54 presents the yarn T to the needles at substantially the level of the upper yarn feed throat 28, above the level of the dial needles D and above the level of the upper stitch forming ledge 21 on the nibs of the sinkers S.

The inner end portion of the special yarn feed finger 50 is also provided with a second yarn feeding passage 55 (FIG. 3) for feeding a second yarn, such as a first body yarn B-l, to the cylinder needles. The first body yarn B-l' is of the same type and corresponds with the first body yarn B-l fed by the feed finger 41 during the knitting of ribbed fabric. This body yarn 8-1 is fed at the second or lower yarn feed throat 37 of the throat plate 23 and at substantially the level of the upper terry loop forming ledges 21 of the nibs of the sinkers S (FIG. 3).

' The inner end portion of the special yarn feed finger 50 is also provided with a third yarn feeding passage 56 (FIG. 3) which feeds a third yarn, such as a second body yarn 8-2, to the cylinder needles. The second body yarn B-2is of the same type and corresponds with the second body yarn B-2 fed by the feed finger 42 during the knitting of ribbed fabric. This body yarn 8-2 is fed outside of or behind the second yarn feed throat 37 and moves through the slot 40 when the yarn feed finger 50 is lowered into active position and when raised to inactive position. Thus, the third yarn B-2' (second body yarn) is fedat a position radially spaced outwardly from the position of feeding of the second body yarn B-l (first body yarn) and at substantially the same level so that both of these yarns are positioned beneath the nibs 21 of the sinkers S as stitch loops are drawn of these yarns by the cylinders needles C over the normal stitch forming ledges 20 of the sinkers S. The outward radial feeding position of the body yarn B-2, relative to the body yarn B-l, insures that the yarns will be fed to the cylinder needles in this relationship and will maintain the proper position in the knit sock.

METHOD OF OPERATION The sock illustrated in FIG. 1 is preferably knit from top to toe and the usual make-up courses are formed in the usual manner. The ribbed upper cuff is then knit on both the cylinder and dial needles, as illustrated in FIG. 6, with a stretchable or elastic body yarn B-2 being fed to both the cylinder and dial needles through the yarn feed finger 42. The body yarn B-2 is drawn over the inner corner defined by the horizontal and vertical legs 29, 30 of the adjustable yarn guide so that this yarn B-2 is maintained outside of the body yarn B-l. The yarn B-l is preferably inelastic and may be formed of synthetic fibers or of natural fibers. The body yarn B-l is fed through a yarn feed finger 41 and at the level of the upper feed throat 28 of the throat plate so that it is maintained inside of the stretchable body yarn 3-2 as it is fed to the hooks of the cylinder and dial needles (FIG. 6).

Since the inner face of the lower U-shaped portion 36 of the throat plate 23 is recessed, relative to the inner face of the upper yarn feed throat plate 28, the outer hooked portions of the dial needles D may remain outwardly in a partially projected position as they pass the throat plate and so that the hooked portions pass underneath the inner portion of the upper yarn feed throat 28. This outward projection of the dial needles permits the accurate positioning of the yarns on the shanks of the dial needles as they pass the throat plate so that their positions are positively maintained for accurate plating during the knitting of the upper ribbed cuff portions 10.

Upon completion of the knitting of the upper ribbed cuff portion 10, the feed fingers 41, 42 are moved to the inactive position and the dial needles D are also inactivated. The special feed finger 50 is moved into the operational position shown in FIG. 3 so that all three yarns T, B-1' and B-2' are fed to the cylinder needles C. The sinkers in that portion of the cylinder which knit the high splice area 11 above the heel 12 are moved inwardly in the manner indicated in FIG. 5 and at a relatively early point, relative to the yarn feeding position, so that the terry yarn T is positioned above the upper stitch forming ledge 21 of the nib so that terry loops are formed in this area. Those sinkers which knit the front portion of the full courses above the heel pocket 12 remain in an outermost position as they pass the throat plate 23 so that the terry yarn T is fed below the nibs and stitches are formed over the normal stitch drawing ledge 20. Thus, terry loops are not formed in this portion of the fabric but plain fabric is knit with all three yarns in plated relationship. Since all the body yarns are fed at the lower level and the body yarns B-2 and 3-2 are fed outwardly of the body yarns B-1 and 8-1, the body yarns are knit at all times below the sinker nib and stitch loops are drawn across the normal stitch drawing ledge so that they are accurately plated in the fabric.

During the knitting of the heel pocket 12, the needle cylinder reciprocates in the conventional manner and terry loops are formed over the nibs of the sinkers while the body yarns B-l and B-2 form stitch loops over the normal stitch drawing ledges 20. The normal narrowing and widening operations take place during the knitting of the heel pocket-12 and the plating relationship of the yarns is maintained.

Rotary motion of the needle cylinder then takes place during the knitting of the foot portion and those needles in the sock which form the sole portion 14 of the foot form terry loops of the yarn T and the body yarns B-1 and 8-2 are knit in plated relationship. Those needles which knit the upper half of the foot form plain stitch loops of each of the yarns T, 8-1 and B-2' and terry loops are not formed.

The needle cylinder is again reciprocated during the knitting of the toe pocket 15 and terry loops are formed of the terry yarn T. Upon completion of the knitting of the toe pocket, a few ring courses are knit, preferably without the terry loops, and this opening is closed, as by a looping or a seaming operation to close the toe end of the sock along the line 16.

Thus, the yarn feeding and control means of the pres-. ent invention includes a special drop throat plate which provides two distinct feeding levels for the yarn and also provides a radial separation of the two body yarns fed at the lowerlevel so that the yarns are maintained in the proper position to be accurately plated in the sock. This accurate plating of the yarns in the sock insures that the yarns maintain the same position throughout the entire sock and there is no bleeding through of the inner yarn to the outside of the sock.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth in a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a circular hosiery knitting machine including a needle cylinder having vertically movable needles therein, a latch ring surrounding the circle of needles, sinkers positioned between said cylinder needles and supported for radial movement, said sinkers each including a stitch loop forming ledge and a nib over which yarn is drawn to form terry loops, and at least one knitting station including a yarn feed position in said latch ring; the combination therewith of improved yarn feeding and control means comprising a. a throat plate supported in said latch ring and including an upper yarn feed throat with an inner face portion flush with the inner peripheral surface of said latch ring, and a lower yarn feed throat at substantially the level of said nibs of said sinkers, said lower yarn feed throat being centered relative to said upper yarn throat, and said throat plate including a yarn passage slot extending from said upper yarn feed throat to one side of said lower yarn feed throat, and

b. a plurality of yarn feed fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding position in said throat plate, I

one of said yarn feed fingers including a first yarn feed passage for feeding a first yarn at the level of said upper yarn feed throat, a second yarn feeding yarn to be fed behind said lower yarn feed throat and in a position outwardly thereof from said cylinder needles to accurately control the plating relationship of the three yarns in the stitch loops of the fabric as stitch loops are formed of said three yarns.

3. In a circular hosiery knitting machine according to claim 1 including a dial, and a set of dial needles supported for a radial movement in said dial, and .wherein said throat plate includes a substantially U-shaped bridge portion with said lower yarn feed throat being defined in the lower portion thereof, said U-shaped bridge portion having an inner face portion recessedrelative to said inner face portion of said upper yarn feed throat so that the outer ends of said dial needles may pass said throat plate in partially extended position and beneath the inner portion of said upper yarn feed throat. 

1. In a circular hosiery knitting machine including a needle cylinder having vertically movable needles therein, a latch ring surrounding the circle of needles, sinkers positioned between said cylinder needles and supported for radial movement, said sinkers each including a stitch loop forming ledge and a nib over which yarn is drawn to form terry loops, and at least one knitting station including a yarn feed position in said latch ring; the combination therewith of improved yarn feeding and control means comprising a. a throat plate supported in said latch ring and including an upper yarn feed throat with an inner face portion flush with the inner peripheral surface of said latch ring, and a lower yarn feed throat at substantially the level of said nibs of said sinkers, said lower yarn feed throat being centered relative to said upper yarn throat, and said throat plate including a yarn passage slot extending from said upper yarn feed throat to one side of said lower yarn feed throat, and b. a plurality of yarn feed fingers movable into and out of yarn feeding position in said throat plate, one of said yarn feed fingers including a first yarn feed passage for feeding a first yarn at the level of said upper yarn feed throat, a second yarn feeding passage for feeding a second yarn at the level of said lower yarn feed throat, and a third yarn feeding passage for feeding a third yarn at the same level as said second yarn, said third yarn passing through said yarn passage slot to permit said third yarn to be fed behind said lower yarn feed throat and in a position outwardly thereof from said cylinder needles to accurately control the plating relationship of the three yarns in the stitch loops of the fabric as stitch loops are formed of said three yarns.
 2. In a circular hosiery knitting machine according to claim 1 including a right angular yarn guide supported for radial adjustment in and at one side only of said upper feed throat of said throat plate, said guide having an inner yarn engaging end for adjusting the feeding position of a yarn fed from said upper yarn feed throat.
 3. In a circular hosiery knitting machine according to claim 1 including a dial, and a set of dial needles supported for a radial movement in said dial, and wherein said throat plate includes a substantially U-shaped bridge portion with said lower yarn feed throat being defined in the lower portion thereof, said U-shaped bridge portion having an inner face portion recessed relative to said inner face portion of said upper yarn feed throat so that the outer ends of said dial needles may pass said throat plate in partially extended position and beneath the inner portion of said upper yarn feed throat. 